Rotary solenoid



Jan. 11, 1966 R. K. DAUGHERTY ETAL 3,229,170

ROTARY SOLENOID Filed Aug. 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RALPH A. DAUGHERTV TRAVE/P J. SMITH A T TORNE' S 1966 R. K. DAUGHERTY ETAL 3,

ROTARY SOLENOID I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1963 INVENTORS RALPH K DAUGHEPTY TRAVER J SM/TH EV w AT TOP/VEVS 11, 1966 R. K, DAUGHEF 2TY ETAL ROTARY SOLENOID 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 1, 1963 United States Patent 315 95 70 URQTARY L NOID RalphKjDaugherty and Traver-J.- Smith, San Jose, Calif.,

assigiiors, 'li'y'niesne assignments, of one-half to Genevi'ev'eI. Magnuspn, and one-halfto'Genevieve I. Mag- 'n'uson, Robert M. 'Magnusom'arld Lois J. Fox, as trustees ofthestate of Roy Magnuson Filed Aug. 1, 1963, Ser.-No."299,211 '10 Claims. ::(Cl. 317-497) This invention relates to rotary solenoids in general. More specificallythisiriventiomrelates to a rotary solenoid which may be adjusted and'which is constructed so that it may be-efiiciently manufactured.

-An objectof this invention toprovide an improved rotary solenoid structure which the angle of rotation may be readily adjusted.

Another object of this invention is :to provide an improved -rotary solenoid construction in whieh the cover thereof is employed for-holding certainYparts in assembled relation.

Still another object of this-invention is to provide an improved rotary solenoid in which the angle of rotation may be adjusted simply bysubstituting readily removable stop members that'are held aseinbled therein by the cover.

A furtherobjectofthis'invention is to provide arotary solenoid with removable pole :p'iece's -to simplify manufacture of the device and also to :permit reversal of rotation if'des'ired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary solenoid construction with readily removable stop members which are also provided with means for holding the coil of the rotary solenoid in a fixed :position, these stop members being held in place by the cover of the device so that they may be easily removed and changed when a different angle of rotation is desired.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary :solenoid construction in which the angle 'of rotation of the armature is =co'ntrolled by nonmagnetic stops made of molded :plastic which has long wearing properties and which also deadens the sound of operation produced by ara'mture impact thereon.

Other and :further objects of this invention be apparent to those skilled in the art to whichitrelates-from the following specification, claims anddraw'ings.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided an improved rotary solenoid constructed so that it has high efficiency and is adapted for economical manufacture. This device *is' provided with a core of magnetic material which includes a central pole piece around which the coil is adapted to be positioned and this core is also provided with outside substantially diammetrically opposed members which are integral with "the central pole piece at one end and the other ends of which are provided with pole faces of arcuate shape. A rotatable shaft is positioned in a hole formed through the central core member, said shaft being substantially concentric with the central pole piece. Suitable bearings are also provided for this shaft and the armature of the device is fixedly attached to the shaft adjacent to the pole faces of the outer pole members. The ends of the 'armature'are provided with arcuate faces which are concentric with the opposing arcuate faces of the outer pole members facing the respective ends as disclosed in Patent No. 2,950,424. Readily removable stops are provided adjacent to the armature 'of the rotary solenoid and these stops have flat surfaces against which the sides of the armatureare adapted to abut so that the angle of rotation of the armature is positively limited thereby. These non-magnetic stops may be made of suitable pla'sticsuch as nylon, Delrin and the like which has long wear, is easily molded and also acts to deaden the sound of impact when the armature abuts the stops. The cover of this device is adapted to engage the stops as well as the sides of the core so-as to hold the stops interlocked with the core when these parts are assembled and :positioned inside of the'cover. The electrical connections to the coil of the device extend outwardly of the cover and are adapted to be connected into an'electrical circuit in which the device is to be used. The shaft'of the rotary solenoid also projects therefrom so that it may be connected to the device to be driven thereby.

The above and additional features of this device 'will beset forth in the detailed description of the embodiments thereof and illustrated in the drawings in which briefly:

FIG. 1 is an end view of the device with the cover cut away and the armature the position it occupies with the solenoid de-energized;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the armature shown in the position it occupies with the solenoid ei1- ergized and the airgapclosed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken :along the line 33 of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 -4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view with the cover "of the "device partially broken away;

FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the device;

. FIG. -7 is a detail view of one of the stop members removed from the device; 7

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the modified form of this device; V

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 8; v

FIG. 10 is a side view of "the device shown in FIG. 8 with the cover cutaway; I

1- 1 is a view of another embodiment of this in vention with the cover partly cut away;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken alongthe 'line 1 2- 12 of FIG. 11; and g g FIG. 13 isa sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is "illustrated a rotary solenoid employing an outer cover or housing In fitting rather snugly -on the outer surfaces of the pole pieces 11 and 12 and stops 25 "as shown in FIG. 1 in which the top of the housing or cover 10 is cut away. The pole pieces 11 and '12 are of like magnetic polarity and each of these pole pieces is provided with an arcua'te face 11a and 12a respectively having slightly displaced centers 11b and 12b. The cover 10 and stops 25 are made of non-magnetic material such as aluminum, brass, certain stainless steels, nylon, Delrin or the like,

'The armature 13 is positioned betwen the pole faces 11a and 12a and this armature is provided with corresponding arcuate faces 13a and 13b. The centers "13cand 13d of these respective faces 13a and 13b are also displaced from each other and also from the centrof the shaft 14. Whenthe armature is in its-closed position as shown in'FIG. 2 the Centers and 13d of the armature faces 13a and 1317 respectively correspond substantially to the centers of pole faces 1 1a and 121?, respectively. Thus as the armature 13 is brought to its closed position, from its open position, the air gaps between the armature faces 13a and 13b and the pole faces 11a and 12a respectively are gradually and uniformly de'cr'eased. Thus the lengths of these air gaps are uniformly the same at each armature position.

The armature 13 is fixedly attached to the shaft 14 which extends through the hole 18 formed in =the-central core member 17. A suitable ball-bearing assembly is positioned in a cavity 16 formed in the central core member 17 adjacent to the armature 13 and the shaft 14- extending through the hole 18 is supported by this assembly and by the bearing 19. The armature 13 which is supported adjacent to the pole face of the central core member is recessed to receive the central core member 17 and bearing assembly 15 as shown in FIG. 3. A small air gap is provided in this recess between the central core member and the armature just sufiicient to eliminate frictional contact therebetween. The bearing assembly 15 is provided to take both radial and axial thrust so that both axial and radial movement of the armature with respect to core is substantially prevented. A hearing sleeve 19 of suitable bearing material is provided inside of the core member 17 to provide additional support for the shaft 14 inside of the core.

1 The core is also provided with an annular cavity for receiving the winding or coil 20 which is of donut shape and is provided with the desired number of turns for magnetizing the core when a suitable electric current is passed therethrough. The ends of this coil are connected to the leads 20a which are connected to the electrical circuit with which this rotary solenoid is adapted to be used. Suitable screws 21 are provided to the core and these are threaded into the spacers 24 or suitable nuts whereby this device may be attached to a bracket, panel or Other support to hold it assembled with the apparatus with which it is to be used.

The screws '21 and threaded spacers 24 also form clamping members for clamping the spring retainer 22 on to the bottom of the core. This spring retainer is provided with a plurality of ears 22a and the outer loop of the spring 23 is adapted to be placed around one of these ears to hold this looped end fixed on to the outside of the solenoid core during operation. The other end of the spring 23 is attached to the shaft 14 so that spring tension is applied to the shaft 14 tending to hold the shaft in the armature open position as shown in FIG. 1. When an electrical current of suitable strength is supplied to the Winding or coil 20 the ends 13a and 13b of the armature are attracted to the pole faces 11a and 12a respectively and the armature'and shaft are rotated against the tension of the spring 23.

The rotation imparted to the armature 13 by means of the spring 23 in bringing the armature to its open air gap position is limited by stop members 25 which are made of suitable non-magnetic material as previously described. These stop members are provided with arcuate portions which partially enclose the sides of the coil or winding 20 that are exposed on the sides of the core. In addition these stop members are provided with narrow projections 26 which partly overlay the coil or winding 20 and which also extend into grooves formed in the core members 11 and 12 so that these narrow projections serve to retain the coil or winding 20 fixed in its cavity and prevent the bobbin thereof from shifting toward the armature.

Where it is desired to provide different angle of stroke to the armature, different amounts of the stop members 25 may be cut away so that the faces 27 of the stop members which engage the sides of the armature and limit the armature stroke, may be positioned at different parts of these stop members depending on the desired angle of stroke. Different stop members 25 may be provided depending on the angle of stroke desired. Thus the angle of stroke may be varied from a few degrees up to an angle of more than 60 degrees.

A modified form of this rotary solenoid is shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 in which the rotatable shaft 14a extends out of only one side of the rotary solenoid. The inner end 14b of the shaft is tapered to a blunt point that engages the inside of the cover 10 to form an auxiliary hearing. The magnetic armature 13 in this case is also fixedly attached to the shaft and is shaped with end pole faces similar to those shown in FIG. 1. In addition the sides of the armature 13 are cut away to form the recesses 13 and 13g so as to increase the air gap between these recessed sides and the poles 11 and 12 and thus reduce magnetic leakage therethrough. The spring 30 which is similar to the spring 23 shown in FIG. 3 is provided inside of the cover and the end 31 is lodged in a suitable hole provided in one of the stop members 25a. Both of the stop members 2511 are provided with such holes so that the spring part 31 may be lodged in either stop members. The other end of the spring 30 is formed into a U- shaped configuration 32 and this is clamped around the shaft 14 which may be provided with flat surfaces at these points. Thus spring tension is applied to the shaft 14 to urge it into the position where'the armature 13 engages the stop members 25a and the sides 27a thereof and in this position the armature 13 is at its maximum air gap.

In this form of the invention the stop members 250! extend beyond the armature 13 so that they engage the inside of the cover as shown in FIG. 8. Otherwise the stop members are of the same general shape as that shown in FIG. 7. They are also provided with thin flange portions such as the portion 26 which extends into grooves cut into the poles 11 and 12 and which also extends over parts of the coil bobbin to engage this bobbin and retain it in position in the annular recess formed in the magnetic core structure.

The rotary solenoid core structure shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a projecting portion 33 through which the shaft 14a extends and which is provided with a bearing sleeve 19a for said shaft. This projecting portion is provided with a circular configuration and the outside thereof is threaded to receive a suitable nut for supporting the rotary solenoid on Wall structure in which there is provided a hole for receiving this projecting part 33. A disc 34 of resilient material may be provided between the core structure and the panels. This disc also pro-. vides insulation of the coil leads 20a against any mounting surface.

The core structure of both forms of this apparatus illustrated in the dnawings may be made of suitable magnetic material that is machined on conventional metal cutting machines to the desired configuration. On the other hand, this core structure may be made of powdered or granular magnetic material that is pressed into the desired shape by means of a suitable die. Alsothe powdered or granular magnetic material may be mixed with a suitable plastic for bonding the material together after it is shaped in a suitable die or mold.

After the various parts of the rotary solenoid are assembled the cover 10 of non-magnetic material such as aluminum is placed over these parts and the lip 10a of the cover is pressed into a suitable groove formed around the outside of the core structure or it may be pressed around the edge of said core structure to firmly grip it and hold the cover in place.

The form of this invention shown in FIGS. ll, 12, and 13 is similar to the previously described forms of rotary solenoid in that a doughnut shaped winding 35 is positioned in an annular cavity 36 formed in the core structure 38. However, in the present form removable pole pieces 47 and 47a are provided to the outer poles; 37 and 37a respectively of the magnetic core. Each of: these removable pole pieces 47 and 47a is provided with holes for-receiving suitable aligning pins such as pins. 48 positioned in the pole 37 and pins 48a positioned in. pole'3 7a. Also suitable machine screws 49 land 4% are:

. threaded into poles 37 and 37a respectively and are received in holes formed in the poles 47 and 47a respecoperate with the opposing surfaces of the pole pieces 47 and 47a. The removable'pole pieces 47 and 47a are provided with arcu-ate faces of the type shown at 11a and 12a provided to the magnetic poles 1 1 and 12-illustrated in FIG. '1.

The'armature 59 which isfixedly'rnounted-ontheshaft 40-isprovided with end faces 50a and SOb-which-o-ppose pole faces 47b and 470 respectively. These end faces are also of arcuate configuration similar .to the end faces 13a and 13b of armature 13 shown'in FIG. 1. Asleeve bearing 41 is positioned'in' the central 'hole 39 of the magnetic core 38 and this sleeve forms a bearing for the shaft 40. Another bearing42 which is ofthe ball hearing type is positioned on the shaft 40 against the shoulder 40a and spaced from the sleeve bearing 41. The inner race of the ball bearing 42 is retained on the shaft 40 by-means of the retaining ring43 which'is lodged in a suitable groove formedin the shaft'adjacent to the inner race. The outer race of the ball bearing 42 is retained imposition in the cavity formed in the core structure, by means of the retaining ring 43 'which is lodged in a suitable recess formed in the core structure adjacent to the'outer surface of the outer race. A fiat coil-spring 45 which is similar to the coil spring 23-shown in FIG. 3 is provided to this'devioe and the inner end of this coil spring is fixedly attached t'othe sh'aft40 while'the outer end is attached to the spring retainer 4511 which is similar to the retainer 22 shown in FIG. 3.

A short [air gap 51 isprovided between the pole face ofthe'central core memberof-the magnetic core 38'and the armature 50. This air gap 51 is as short as possible and is long enough only to prevent rubbing contact between the pole 'face of the central core member and the armature. The ball bearing i2 prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft 40 with respect to the magnetic core so that the length of air gap 5-1 does not vary and contact between the opposing surfaces of this air gap 51 is prevented during rotation of the armature.

This rotary solenoid is provided with an armature stop supporting member 5-2 which may be molded out of plastic material such as nylon or Delrin and the like and the armature stops 53 and 54 are molded integrally with the suppor 52. The stop 53 is provided with surfaces 53a and 53b which cooperate with surfaces d and 50 respectively of the armature 50, Stop 54 is provided with similar surfaces 54a and 54b which cooperate with surfaces 50c and see respectively of the armature. The armature Sit is shown in the position it normally occupies when the solenoid is not energized, that is when the electric circuit to the winding 35, which is provided with connections 35 a and 35b, is interrupted and under such conditions the spring 45 holds the armature with surfaces 50 and Site in engagement with the surfaces 53b and 541) respectively of the stops. When the wind.- ing 35 is energized the armature is rapidly rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 13 until surfaces She and 50d engage stop surfaces 54a and 53 1 e pecti ely- Reliefs -53c and 540 are provided to the stops S3 and 54 respegtively to irnprove the operation of the rotary solenoid and prevent the armature Stl from being locked ag i the tep 53 and. 54 a r l ng period o u e o he d i e After m ny p ti n of th o noid in w ich the armatu e 50 repea e ly hi he st ps 53 and 54, in cases where the stops are made of plastic ma terial such as nylon or Delrin, some of the material was worn out of or displaced from the surfaces 53a and 54a. As a result small shoulders were formed in the surfaces 53a and 54:: adjacent to the points where the parts Silg and 50h of the armature engage the stops 53 and 54 respectively. After these shoulders built up to a certain size they had a tendency to lock the armature against the stops. Providing the reliefs 53c and 540 at the points where these shoulders were developed eliminated this defect in the operation of the device. Such 6 relief-s may also be provided in the faces of the stops provided to the other forms of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-10 in cases where such stops are made of plastic material such as nylonor Delrin and the like.

While we have shown preferred embodiments of the invention it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only'by the scope of the-claims appended hereto.

What we claim'is:

1. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil positioned on said core for setting'upa magnetic field in said core, a rotatable armature, means supporting said armature on said core and non-magnetic means of a'tough plastic sound deadening material limiting the rotation of said armature, said nonmagnetic means having reliefs formed in surfaces thereof adjacent to surfaces thereof that are engaged by said armature sothat said non-magnetic means does not have parts thereof extended therefrom such as will interfere with the operation of said armature.

2."In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil for magnetizing saidcore when electric current is supplied thereto, said core being recessed to receive said coil, a rotatable armature, a shaft supporting said armature, said core having a hole therethrough for receiving said shaft, bearing means positioned in said hole supporting said shaft on said core, said core having magneticpole faces opposing the ends of said armature, anon-magnetic disc shaped member positioned over said coil, said non-magnetic member having stop means limiting the rotation of said armature, a helical spring having one end attached to said shaft, means fixedly-holdingthe other end of said spring on said core, and a'cover engaging said core and holding said nonmagnetic member assembled therewith.

3. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil positioned on said core for setting up a magnetic field in said core, a rotatable armature, a shaft supporting said armature, said core having a hole extending therethrough receiving said shaft, non-magnetic means partially enclosing said coil, said non-magnetic means retaining said coil positioned on said core, said non-magnetic means having means limiting the rotation of said armature.

4. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil positioned on said core for setting up a magnetic field in said core, a rotatable armature, a shaft supporting said armature on said core, non-magnetic means partially enclosing said coil positioned on said core, said non-magnetic means having means limiting the rotation of said armature and means retaining said non-magnetic means assembled with said core.

5. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil for magnetizing said core when electric current is supplied thereto, said core being recessed to receive said coil, a rotatable armature, a shaft supporting said armature, bearing means supporting said shaft on said core, Said core having magnetic pole faces opposing the ends of said armature, non-magnetic members partially surrounding said coil, said non-magnetic members having means retaining said coil in said recessed core and a cover engaging said core and holding said nonmagnetic members assembled therewith.

6. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil for magnetizing said core when electric current is supplied thereto, said core being recessed to receive said coil, a rotatable armature, a shaft, supporting said armature, said core having a hole therethrough for receiving said shaft, bearing means positioned in said hole supporting said shaft on said core, said core having magnetic pole faces opposing the ends of said armature, non-magnetic members partially surrounding said coil, said non-magnetic members having means retaining said coil in said recessed core, a helical spring having one end attached to said shaft, means fixedly holding the other end of said spring on said core, and a cover engaging said core and holding said nonmagnetic members assembled therewith.

7. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil for magnetizing said core when electric current is supplied thereto, said core being recessed to receive said coil, a rotatable armature, a shaft supporting said armature, said core having a hole therethrough for receiving said shaft, bearing means positioned in said hole supporting said shaft, said core having mag netic pole faces opposing the ends of said armature, nonmagnetic members partially surrounding said coil, said non-magnetic members having surfaces which are adapted to engage said armature and limit the rotation thereof, said non-magnetic members having means retaining said coil in said recessed core and a cover engaging said core and holding said non-magnetic members assembled therewith.

8. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, said core having a centrally disposed member and a pair of side members, a coil positioned on said centrally disposed member, an armature rotatably supported on said centrally disposed member between said side members, the ends of said armature and the adjacent faces of said side members being shaped such that air gaps formed therebetween are uniformly reduced in length as said armature is rotated, non-magnetic members positioned between said side members partially enclosing said coil, said non-magnetic members having flanges positioned in recesses formed in said side members and extending over said coil for retaining said coil positioned on said core, said non-magnetic members having means limiting the rotation of said armature, and a cover engaging said core and holding said non-magnetic members assembled therewith.

9. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, a coil for magnetizing said core when electric current is supplied thereto, said core being recessed to receive said coil, a rotatable armature, a shaft supporting said armature, said core having a hole therethrough for receiving said shaft, bearing means positioned in said hole supporting said shaft, said core having magnetic pole faces opposing the ends of said armature, a non-magnetic disc member positioned over said coil, said non-magnetic member having stop means limiting the rotation of said armature, and means attaching said disc shaped member to said core adjacent to said pole faces.

10. In a rotary solenoid the combination of a core of magnetic material, said core having a centrally disposed member and a pair of side members, a coil positioned on said centrally disposed member, an armature rotatably supported on said centrally disposed member between said side members, the ends of said armature and the adjacent faces of said side members being shaped such that air gaps formed therebetween are uniformly reduced in length as said armature is rotated, a non-magnetic disc shaped member positioned over said side members and attached thereto, said non-magnetic member having stop means for limiting the rotation of said armature.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1958 Tancred 317-197 6/1962 Cuches 317197 X 

1. IN A ROTARY SOLENOID THE COMBINATION OF A CORE OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL, A COIL POSITIONED ON SAID CORE FOR SETTING UP A MAGENTIC FIELD IN SAID CORE, A ROTATABLE ARMATURE, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ARMATURE ON SAID CORE AND NON-MAGNETIC MEANS OF A TOUGH PLASTIC SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL LIMITING THE ROTATION OF SAID ARMATURE, SAID NONMAGNETIC MEANS HAVING RELIEFS FORMED IN SURFACES THEREOF ADJACENT TO SURFACES THEREOF THAT ARE ENGAGED BY SAID ARMATURE SO THAT SAID NON-MAGNETIC MEANS DOES NOT HAVE PARTS THEREOF EXTENDED THEREFROM SUCH AS WILL INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF SAID ARMATURE. 